November 2011 ZOO NEWS! Join the fun at Denver Zoo! In this issue: I. Teacher Professional Development opportunities December II. Mini-Camps III. VIP Tours IV. Group Bunks and Family Bunk V. Discovery Loan Boxes VI. Colorado Science Convention/Poop to Power VII. Lion King Program I. Teacher Professional Development opportunities December Learn how to use Denver Zoo's Asian Tropics exhibit, which is slated to open late spring 2012! Get the inside scoop on this fantastic new exhibit before the general public and learn how to use the space to engage your students of all ages with animals, inquiry, and conservation. For more information, and to register: http://denverzoo.org/teacher Upcoming Teacher Professional Development Workshops at the Zoo: *all workshops are eligible for re-licensure credit through the Colorado School of Mines* Asian Tropics: Tropical Ecosystems Saturday, December 3, 8:30am-4:30 pm For teachers of PreK- Grade 12 Tuition: $90; 0.5 credit from Colorado School of Mines Asian Tropics at Denver Zoo: Connecting Students to a Bio-diverse Ecosystem Get the inside scoop on Denver Zoo's newest exhibit Asian Tropics, opening late spring of 2012! Explore the connections between people, animals and plants as you uncover the amazing biodiversity of tropical Asia. Learn about the exceptional adaptations of animals such as Asian elephants, greater one-horned Indian rhinos and clouded leopards, and how your students can connect to conservation in this distant ecosystem. Programming based on Colorado state academic standards. Complete an Asian Tropics at Denver Zoo workshop and receive 10% off an on-site Asian Tropics program. * Workshop participants will receive a 15% discount towards the holiday sale in the zoo gift shop! Team Building Professional Development Workshops Ever wonder what it is like to work with animals? It's not that different from working with people! Spend a day at the zoo with your colleagues developing your team building skills through activities focused on communication, workings styles and building team work. Make the human/animal connection by utilizing lessons from the animal world and applying it to your professional team. This professional development workshop will have you WILD about your team! * These workshops are offered year round based on availability. Some customization is available for an additional fee. For more information please contact Molly Maloy, mmaloy@denverzoo.org 303-376-6740 Back to top II. Mini-Camps Denver Zoo Mini-Camps A great alternative to sitting at home during those days out of school…participate in animal encounters, special zoo experiences, active tours, lively games and creative activities. Camp sessions are available for kids in Pre-K through 5th grade. Each camp runs from 9am-4pm daily, and includes morning and afternoon snacks. Early drop-off and late pick-up options are available. Register online and see more detailed camp descriptions at www.denverzoo.org/education. $45 per day members, $48 per day nonmembers November 23 - Zoo Keeper Camp Think you might want to clean up after camels or serve lunch to leopards? Find out more about what zoo keepers do while getting up close with some cool zoo animals. December 27 - Slither, Swim & Hop Explore the creepy, slimy, squirmy and very cool world of reptiles and amphibians. December 28 - Primate Party Get down with our primate cousins! Apes, monkeys, lemurs and more! December 29 - Zoo Cats and Dogs Discover amazing cats and dogs with super abilities to jump, prowl and hunt. Lions, tigers and hyenas—oh my! December 30 - Feathered Friends Get your birdwatcher binoculars ready! We're heading out to spot some high-flying or pond-paddling specimens. Scholarships are available. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, do not register online. Download the Red Apple Scholarship Fund application from our website, e-mail edsupport@denverzoo.org or call us at 720-337-1488, option 8 to have an application sent to you. Back to top III. VIP Tours VIP Tours at Denver Zoo! Come experience the zoo that few visitors get to see! Two options are available: VIP and Zoo Lights VIP allow participants opportunities to get behind the scenes, and up close with many different animals. A personal tour guide will escort you through a personalized front of house tour of Predator Ridge, Denver Zoo's Education and Wildlife Show collections during which you will participate in a feeding or training session, and behind the scenes access at Tropical Discovery with a keeper. The tours also include carousel tokens, food and gift discount coupons, and souvenir photograph. Zoo Lights VIP Tours (3:00 pm - 6:00 pm and includes admission to Zoo Lights) available December 9 - 28, 2011 Daytime VIP tours available year round. (9:30 am - 12:30 pm) Who: Adults and children over 3 years who would love an insider's look at some of the zoo's most popular attractions! When: Tours are offered daily - call early for best selection. Preregistration and 72 hours' notice required. Only one VIP tour per day is offered. Cost: Group of 4 - Members, $225; Non-members, $250. Zoo admission is included. Each additional participant: $45. Maximum group size is 8. Children under 3 are free but count toward the maximum group size. To Register: Please call 720-337-1491. Back to top IV. Group Bunks and Family Bunk Who: School groups and other youth organizations with children ages 6-12. When: All overnights are 6:30 p.m.-10 a.m. Group Bunks are available September-May, with sleeping accommodations in the comfort of the Gates Education Center. Also check out our new summer-only CampOUT experiences for groups, above! Cost: $45 per child. 1 chaperone per every 10 children is FREE. Additional chaperones are $35. Evening snack and full breakfast included. Scholarships are available! Topics: Explore the wilds of Africa in our Africa: Predator vs. Prey bunk, travel to the tropics to discover Rainforest Wonders, or bring your teen groups to learn about Zoo careers in our special Zoo Careers bunk. Scholarships are available!  Visit our Red Apple Scholarship Fund page for more information. Rainforest Wonders Investigate the layers of the rain forest, as you travel from the forest floor up through the canopy. Learn about the amazing animals that inhabit dense tropical jungles, the interconnection of species, and how important conservation efforts are to these beautiful but fragile environments. Africa: Predator vs. Prey Your zoo safari will bring you face to face with predator and prey! Discover their adaptations for tracking the herd or escaping the hunt. Prowl with the pride and run with the pack as you view lions, wild dogs, banded mongoose and other residents of the majestic African savanna. Zoo Careers Thinking about becoming a zookeeper or animal trainer? Get the inside scoop on what it's like to work at the zoo! Learn about the daily tasks of keepers and trainers, try your hand at a few, and see if you're really ready to join the crew at the zoo. Prefer to Bunk on a Weeknight? Special during-the-week bunks can be arranged — call 720-337-1494 for details. Wild Lights, Wild Winter Family Bunk Saturday, November 26 6 p.m.-10 a.m. Join us for dinner, then go out and experience the wonder of Zoo Lights as a family. When you're ready to warm up inside, we'll be waiting with hot cocoa, fun crafts and other activities that explore how wild animals adapt to winter habitats. Wake up in the morning to a warm breakfast and a before-hours private tour of the zoo. A perfect way to enjoy Zoo Lights before the public, as a VIP! Ages 6 and up, with parents. Cost: $45 per member, $48 per non-member, and includes dinner, evening snack and full breakfast. Back to top V. Discovery Loan Boxes Learning and fun, packed into one! What: Boxes are designed for teachers to enhance their classroom curriculum. Various topics available; all include materials such as puppets, skins and skulls, videos, resource and picture, books, games, scientific equipment for experiments, and curriculum guides to help facilitate activity and lesson plans. Who: Teachers of students in grades K-6 Where: At your school When: Year-round. Contact Program Specialist for available dates. Time: Loan boxes may be checked out for 2 weeks at a time. Cost: Free with a $25 refundable deposit; shipping the box to your location requires an additional fee. How: Contact 303-376-6740 or mmaloy@denverzoo.org to learn more or to book your loan box. Please reserve your box at least two weeks before you wish to check it out. Boxes can be picked up at the zoo or can be shipped if your school. Shipping the box to your school costs $20 for schools inside SCFD, and $30 for schools outside SCFD. This cost only includes the shipment to your location. Back to top VI. Denver Zoo Presents "Poop to Power" at Colorado Science Convention Poop to Power: Getting knee deep in Science at Denver Zoo Denver Zoo's newest exhibit, Asian Tropics will be using a biomass gasification system that turns human trash and animal waste into useable energy. Want to try this in the classroom? Learn how Denver Zoo can help you engage your students with a hands on and innovative experiment that bridges science, trash and conservation, all in one day! Through live animal demonstrations and creative engineering, your students will be WILD about the science of sustainability!! When: Friday, November 18, 2011 12:30-1:25 (Session 4) Colorado Science Convention 2011 November 18, 2011 Denver Merchandise Mart To register, visit their website: http://www.coloradocast.org/professionaldevelopment.php?page=overview Back to top VII. Custom Lion King Program Ever wonder about the animals that inspired the choreography and costuming of the Lion King? Learn more about Denver Zoo's own cast of characters as we highlight their natural form and movement. Bring your class to the zoo for a guided tour and live animal demonstration that will celebrate the circle of life, from lions and hyenas to warthogs and hornbills! For more information; please contact Ali@denverzoo.org or call 303-376-4808 Back to top Thank you for making Denver Zoo your premiere choice for life-science education in Denver! Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele Street, Denver, CO 80205